Car-coupling



.(No Model.)

3 sneets-sneet 1. H. C. BHOP.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 467,680. Patented Jan. 26, 18912.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.) Y

H. C. BHUUP. GAR GOUPLING.

Patented Jan. 26, 18g2- /////////////I A4 llmllll WWW ' NITED STATES PATENT ptica.

HARRY C. BUHOUP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 467,680, dated January 26, 1892.

Application iiled September 14, 1891. Serial No. 405,602. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. BUHOUP, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the count-y of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

andV exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of a coupler embodying my invention, the parts being in the first position or when the coupler is closed as in use. Fig. 2 is a similar section, the parts in the second position, as in uncoupling or when set for uncoupling. Fig. 3 is a similar section in the third position, as when uncoupled or set for coupling. Fig. 4 is a'vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the locking-block, the camfinger by which it is operated, the trigger operated thereby, and the weight which moves the locking-block. Fig. 6 is a detached View of the pivoted nose or knuckle. Fig. 7 is a view of the devices, wherein a spring instead of a Weight is employed to move the locking-V block.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to that class of couplers commonly termed twin-jaw couplers, Whether the same are formed with solid or buttress j ournal-bearings for the pivoted nose or knuckle, as in the Browning or like coup# lers, or whether provided with a pivot-pin, as in the Well-known Janney type of couplers, though for the purpose of illustration and without any intention of limitation, I have chosen the .Ianney type of coupler.

The object of my present invention is to facilitate the coupling and uncoupling of the devices, to automatically insure at all times such a relation of the coacting parts as shall pivoted nose positively when the lockingblock is withdrawn for uncoupling.

A second feature embracessuch a combination or relative arrangement of the knuckle or pivoted nose-piece and the sliding lockingblock, that the return or outward movement of the lattershall complete the opening of the knuckle or pivotblock in case the trigger or kicker shall not move it suflciently.

A third featureembraces the combination with a sliding locking-block and means for holding the same in a retracted position of a knuckle arranged to release the locking-block on either its opening or closing travel..

A fourth feature embraces a combination between the sliding block and car by suitable intermediate connections, that the sliding block shall be retracted to release the knuckle whenever the coupler shall become detached from the car.

There are other minor features of invention relating to specific combinations of elements and details of construction, all of which will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A indicates the hollow stem of a draw-bar, in which the sliding lockingblock is located; B,the draw-head having the usual guard-linger C, the journal D for the pivoted nose or knuckle, and the curved buffing-face E.'

F indicates a knuckle or pivoted nose provided with the pivot-pin or journal I), said knuckle having sufficient play on the pivotpin D to permit the hooked tail-piece Ill to engage the through bolt K.

The features of construction thus far specilied will be found described and claimed,in my patent, No. 431,644, granted July S, 1890, and are not herein claimed, being simply used for purposes of illustration, and for which any equivalents may be substituted.

l indicates a sliding block arranged in the hollow stem of the draw-bar and adapted to be automatically projected across the path of the tail-piece 2 of the knuckle or pivoted nose by a weighted lever 3 or equivalent means, though a spiral spring 3W, (see Fig. 7,) arranged on the stem 4 of the sliding block may be used, if desired. When the weighted le- IOO ver 3 is employed, it is preferably pivoted on the head, as at 3a, and is formed with an extension 3b, which stands back of and in line with the cross-timber T of the car-frame, so that in case the draw-bar A shall become detached and pull out, said extension 3b will strike the frame-timber T, retract the lockingblock 1, and release the knuckle F, said le- Ver acting in conjunction with or independent -of the pin 5, according to circumstances, as will hereinafter appear. The forward end of said sliding locking-block 1 is preferably slightly rounded, as at l, to facilitate the engagement of the tail-piece 2 therewith in the inward or coupling movement, when said tailpiece causes the sliding block to recede, and said block is provided with rounded overhang or projection l", (see Figs. 4 and 5,) under which the tail-piece 2 passes to lift and release the automatically-sliding Vblock 1 on` gages a pin 5, that limits the outward move-v ment of the locking-block, and said pin 5 may be the same which forms part of the mechananism for retracting block 1. l

In the draw-head B and substantially in line with the travel of the end of tail-piece 2 of the knuckle `F is a shoulder 6, which serves to arrest the outward movement of the sliding block 1 until said block is lifted and released therefrom by the tail-piece 2.

5 indicates a pin arranged in suitable holes in. the draw-head at one side of the path of the sliding block 1. This pin 5 is set at an inclination to the line of draft (see Fig. 4) and is connected to the pull-rod on the car in the usual or any approved'manner. In case the coupler should become detached and pull out, the connection between the pin and pull-rod will, owing to the inclination of said pin, operate the pin and release the knuckle,

vand the lever 3 will i supplement this operation of inclined pin 5, as well as act independently in case the connection between the pull-rod and pin 5 fails. The lower end of said pin 5 passes between fingers 7, secured to a rock-shaft 8, pivoted on the under side of draw-head B, and to said shaft 8 is attached the cam-'finger 9, which projects through a slot 10 in the draw-head and serves to operate the sliding block 1, so that said pin 5 not only acts as a side support for the sliding block, but also as part of the means for retracting said block. The tail-piece 2 of the knuckle or pivoted nose F, which coacts with the sliding block 1 and its projection 1b, is pref- 'as follows: The knuckle F being closed, as

Fig. 3.

erably formed with an incline 2b, which, in conjunction with the incline under .surfaceof projection 1b, hereinbefore referred to, in- 7ok sures the lift of the locking-block l, so that it shall ride over shoulder 6 at the proper t1 me. The tail-piece 2 is also provided w1th an 1n/ clined vertical face 5b, (see Figs. 1, 3, and 6,) which permits of the locking-block 1 moving 75 forward to compensate for any Wear that may,i take place on the end of said tail-piece 2. .ni

l1 indicates a trigger or kicker pivoted 1n the draw-head B, adjacent to the rear end of the tail-piece 2 of knuckle F, and of such form and so located that when the knuckle is 1n position (see Fig. l) the tail-piece 2 thereof shall not bear on said trigger, nor will the trigger be liable to be injured by the said tail-piece of the knuckle. The .trigger or kicker 11 is provided with a projection 11d, which enters the recess 1d in the sliding locking-block 1, (hereinbefore referred t0,) and said recess 1d is of such length and so placed in the side of the locking-block that the projection 11d is struck just as the forward end of locking-block 1 reaches the shoulder 6 in the draw-head, and the continued backward movement or recession of the lockingblock causes the trigger 11 to strike the tail.- piece 2 of the knuckle Fand throw the knuckle sufficiently far forward to couple.

Devices constructed andcombined substantially as hereinbefore specified will 4operate IOO shown in Fig. 1, or in the position which it `occupies when the cars are coupled, and it being desired to uncouple or to set the knuckle F for coupling up, the pin 5 is lifted, which through fingers 7 actuates rock-shaft and x05 cam-linger 9 to cause the recession `of shdlng locking-block 1. When sliding locking-block 1 has receded to that point where its forward `lower end is in position to dropbehind shoulder 6 in the bottom of draw-head B, the forward 11o rwall of recess 1d strikes projection l1d on the kicker or trigger l1, after which farther recession of the sliding locking-block actuates the trigger 11, causing it to strike or kick the tail-piece 2 of the knuckle F and throw the knuckle into position to couple, as shown in When the pin 5 is released and drops down, the automatic locking-block 1 is free `to advanceor move forward, and if the kicker or trigger 11 has only thrown the tail-piece 2 of knuckle F in front of the sliding lockingblock, as shown in Fig. 2, said block in its forward movement will strikethe tail-piece 2 and and forces up or lifts the block l, so that it rides-past the shoulder 6, and on escaping from the tail-piece the block 1 is projected forward in front of tail-piece 2 (see Fig. l) until the shoulder le strikes pin 5 and arrests the forward movement of the sliding lockingblock. When the pin 5 is lifted to actuate the sliding locking-block l and set the devices for uncoupling in case the tail-piece 2 is not thrown in front of the locking-block, said block in its forward movement will be arrested by the shoulder 6 and held back of the path of the tail-piece 2, so that on the separation of the cars the tail-piece 2 will be free to move or swing past the front end of the locking-block in its outward movement, and in so doing its end will pass under the projection Ib of block l, lift the block, thereby releasingit from shoulder 6 and permitting it to continue its forward movement after the tail-piece 2 has escaped, so that when the knuckle is in propery position to couple the locking-block l will also bein proper position therefor.

Having thus set forth the nature, operation, and advantages of my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a coupler, the combination, with a knuckle or pivoted nose, of a trigger or kicker fulcrumed in the head back of the tail-piece of the knuckle, and a sliding locking-block having means for engaging the fulcrumed trigger or kicker, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a coupler, the combination, with a knuckle or pivoted nose, of a movable lockingblock having-an overhang or projection adapted to engage the tail-piece of the knuckle, and a shoulder in the draw-head adapted to engage and retain the movable locking-block, substantiallyas and for the purposes specified.

3. In a coupler, the combination, with a knuckle or pivoted nose having an inclined face on the tail-piece, of a movable lockingblock having an inclined overhang or projection which engages the tailpiece of the knuckle, substantially as and for the purposes specitied.

4. In a coupler, the combination, with a knuckle orpivoted nose, of a movable lockingblock having an overhang or projection which engages the tail-piece of the knuckle or nosepiece, and a trigger or kicker actuated by the sliding locking-block, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a coupler, the combination, with a knuckle orpivoted nose, of a movable lockingblock having an overhang or projection which enga-ges the tail-piece of the knuckle, a .trig- 6o ger or kicker actuated by the movable locking-block, and a shoulder in the draw-head adapted to engage and retain the movable locking-block, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a coupler, the combination, with the knuckle or pivoted nose and a movable locking-block, of an inclined pin for actuating the lockingblock, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a coupler, the combination, with the knuckle or pivoted nose and locking-block therefor, of a pivoted weighted lever for mo ving the locking-block in one direction, -said lever having an extension which proqects above the coupler, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a coupler, the combination, with the knuckle or pivoted nose, ofa movable lockingblock, a weighted lever for moving the block v8o in one direction, said lever having an extension which projects above the coupler, and an inclined pin for moving the block in the other direction, substantially as and for the purposes specified. Y

9. In a coupler, the combinatioi', with a il) sliding locking-block having avertical bevel, of a knuckle or pivoted nose provided with i a tail-piece having its vertical face, which l engages the slidingblock, inclined or bev-,9o eled to permit the advance of the locking-ij block to compensate for Wear, substantially as specified.

lO. In a coupler, the combination, with the knuckle or pivoted nose, of a movable lockingblock having a slot in its bottom for a camtinger and provided with a pin-shoulder on one side, a cam-inger for actuating the block, and a movable pin for actuating the cam-tinger and limiting the movement of the lock- Ioo ing-block, substantially as and for the purposes speciiied.

1l. In a coupler, the combination of a knuckle or pivoted nose, a locking-block therefor, a cam for actuating the locking-block, said cam provided with pin-fingers, and .a pin for actuating the cam, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 12th day of no September, 1891.

HARRY C. BUHOP` Witnesses:

R. E. J ANNEY, P. HIEN. 

